Gery Arlin Cummings

Gery Arlin Cummings died Thursday, April 9, 2009, at home after more than ten years of fighting cancer. He was 62 years old.
Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m. Sunday, April 12, 2009, at First Presbyterian Church in Starkville, 307 University Dr. Funeral services will be held Monday, April 13, 2009, at 10:00 a.m. and also at FPC Starkville. The Rev. Dr. Olin McBride will preside.
Gery was born August 20,1946 in Monroe, LA to Eldria and Mary Cummings. The family moved to Jackson, MS in 1952 and Gery was a graduate of Provine High School in 1964. Gery obtained a degree from Mississippi State in 1968, which was also where he met his wife of 41 years, Bettie Echols Cummings. They were married on March 9, 1968.
Gery and Bettie raised three children, Brent, Katie and Tyler. The family spent 23 years in Randolph, NJ where Gery opened Accelerated Learning Systems, a company that sold and consulted with sales training.
Starkville has long been considered home and Gery and Bettie moved back in October of 2000. Gery continued to operate Accelerated Learning in Starkville and was an active member and Deacon of First Presbyterian Church. He was also an active Rotarian.
Gery chaired the Local and Global Missions committee where he was instrumental in opening the Casserole Kitchen, which feeds many hungry families in the greater Starkville area. Gery's faith was shared with innumerable people by his actions.
He is survived by his wife, Bettie; his son, Lt. Col. Gery Brent Cummings (Laura) of Manhattan, KS; his daughter, Katie C. Chustz (Jamie) of Madison, MS; and his son, J. Tyler Cummings of Southaven, MS. He is also survived by Donna Echols of Jackson, MS; and his sisters, Teressa Cummings of Dallas, TX and Kandis Furlow (Warren) of Middleton, NJ. His grandchildren are Emily M. and Meredith F. Cummings and J. Steven and Gery Samuel Chustz and Denver and Jake Mabus.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Global and Local Missions Committee at FPC Starkville, or to the Palmer Home for Children.